Interviewer: A reporter of the Italian newspaper, Lota Continua (?)
Question: [In the West, lots of questions have been raised among the supporters of the Iranian nation's struggles. Many of these questions stem from the lack of knowledge about the history and development of your remote past and recent ideas. For me also, and due to my more activities in supporting your Islamic Revolution, your answer to these questions would be useful. I guess that what is going on in the life of the popular movement in Iran has its roots in a kind of Shi`i renaissance- Shi`i revivalism. Would you please explain what kind of activities; discussions and struggles have constituted your activities during the recent thirty years?]
Answer: One of the innate characteristics of Shi`ism, since the beginning up to now, which is seen throughout the Shi`i history is the uprising and resistance against dictatorships and oppression, although the climax of these struggles have been manifested in certain stages of history. During the recent 100 years, some incidents have happened, each of which has had an effect on the current movement of the Iranian nation. The Constitutional Revolution, «1» the Tobacco Movement, «2» etc are of great importance. The establishment of the religious seminary more than 50 years ago in the city of Qum «3» and its effect inside and outside the country and also the endeavors made by the religious intellectuals in the academic centers and the 1962-63 uprising, led by the Islamic `ulama', who are still leading the people are among the factors which have introduced the Shi`i Islam to the world.
Q: [How did these activities and discussions, this modernization of Shi`ism- adaptation to the time- develop? Has this development been limited to the Shi`ah clerics or has it developed in other areas as well? What has been the role of seminaries in this development?]
A: Principally Islam- Shi`ism is nothing but genuine Islam- not only does not prevent the intellectual and scientific development of human beings, but also paves the way for this development and gives to it a humane and divine direction. And, the scientific and cultural perfection of human beings after the advent of Islam has astonished the scholars of history. Yes, what I should add here is that moral corruption, conversion of man to mere consuming creature, hedonism, and assessing all the values with money have all a different meaning from that of modernization of a country; and Shi`ism is against those phenomena not against the modernization of the country. With regard to the role of the clerics I should say that research and study in the Islamic discussions and acquaintance with the Shi`i jurisprudence have become very specialized due to the expansion of its various fields inevitably requires that always some people prepare themselves to understand and then impart them to the people. And those who have undertaken this responsibility are the clerics who have been forerunners in all social movements and political struggles according to their Islamic understandings.
Q: [Would you please describe the meaning of the concept `Hizbullah'?]
A: Any Muslim who has accepted the values and principles of Islam and practices exact Shi`i discipline in his rites and behaviors is a member of the Hizbullah, and all the directions and policies of this party have been ordained by Islam and the holy Qur'an. This party is different from other parties in the world. Today, all the Iranians- of any age- either man or woman, who are struggling through chanting Islamic slogans, are members of the Hizbullah.
Q: [Would you please comment on the exact meaning of `Imam'? In its general sense and in your current position, what is the title of the Imam that has been entitled to you during the demonstrations of millions of people in the Islamic month of Muharram? What is the relationship between the Imam and the Hizbullah?]
A: Imam means the leader and is someone who leads and guides a group of the people in a special direction. And Imam is the one who determines the policy of the Shi`ah and the Hizbullah and is the leading figure of this broad-based organization, who realizes and infers all the duties of the members of the organization from the holy Qur'an and the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (s) in different times and conditions.
Q: [How can a modern government exist in an Islamic society?]
A: How could it be possible for Islam, which has focused most of its emphasis on thoughts and intellectuality, and invites the human being to get free of all the superstitions, and all from the captivity of all the inhumane and reactionary governments, to be inharmonious with man's urbanity, developments and the suitable innovations that are the results of his experiences?
Q: [With regards to the fact that every government gathers the maximum power in itself, how can an Islamic government be created without the relation of the dominant and those under dominance?]
A: Islam has appointed rules and limits in the relations of the government, governor and the nation, and has also appointed some rights for each of these three organs of the country, the observance of which is on the shoulders of the two others. If these rights and laws are observed no relation such as the one between the dominant and those under dominance will ever be created. Basically, to govern is a divine duty, and the governor shoulders some other heavy duties other than those that are binding for all the other Muslims. The government and dominance is not a means of honor and superiority over the others, through which the governor can trample the rights of the nation to save his own interests. Every single individual of the nation has the right to impeach the governor of the Muslims, or criticize him directly, and the governor should give a satisfactory answer. Otherwise, if the governor has failed to perform his Islamic duties, he will be automatically removed from his position. There are also some other rules in such a situation to solve the problem.
Q: [Which public, social organisms in the Islamic society should guarantee the political decision making and the equality between the people and prevent the creation of the dominant-under dominance relation, and also to control the performance of the decision makers in the government? The experience of history teaches us the fact that the power and the will of the nation are enforced by the Parliament, even if the Parliament members are elected freely is too limited and increases respectively.]
A: In today's world, that is said to be the world of industry, the intellectual leaders intend to manage the human society like a great industrial factory; while the societies are made up of people who enjoy an intellectual aspect and a mystical soul; and, besides all social, economic laws, etc. Islam underlines the training of human beings on the basis of belief in God, and in guiding the society; Islam uses this aspect to guide the man toward prosperity and moral elevation. If belief in God, and doing what satisfies God, enter all social, political, economic activities and other affairs of human life, the World's most complicated problems will be solved easily. Today, the world has encountered a deadlock and at the same time refuses to submit itself to the directions of the prophets, but it will finally be obliged to give up.
Q: [Through which ways, do you think, the concentration of economic power can be wiped out, not only between the rich and the poor, but also among different types of manufacturing processes, i. e. worker and employer?]
A: The godless society in which the people have no faith in God and do not work for His satisfaction, have got involved in the employer-worker problem in a way that even when it tries to solve the problem, greater problems are created. So, the society sees itself in a deadlock! But in an Islamic society in which all the affairs are done and assessed according to Islamic principles and criterions, no problem will ever be created.
Q: [Is it possible in your opinion to establish an Islamic government immediately after the overthrow of the Pahlavi Regime, or an interim government should be established in order to reach the Islamic government?]
A: Naturally, if a government and a nation work according to the Islamic principles and for God's satisfaction, they will be able to solve their problems gradually, and they will be morally elevated more than before. Then the society will get closer to the divine values, and that is an endless way.
Q: [As a definite example, which principles should be undertaken by an Islamic government, in order to wipe out Shah's oil-dependant economy and also in order to use this material differently?]
A: Iran enjoys different and abundant facilities and capacities for economic development, that even if there is no oil, the country can overcome poverty and get developed, including various mines, that are of great importance in industry, and also husbandry and agricultural facilities and the most important of all, the existence of abundant and innovative human talents. Besides, selling the oil to the customers fairly, we will try to use the oil in our own industry.